AN: Huge thank you to my beta xxtwilightx
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns it all.
We speed through the sleepy town while mom and dad chatted excitedly about our new town, mom practically bouncing in her plush seat. I could see dad shooting me worried glances in the Rear-View mirror. I turned my head away in arrogance.
I love my Dad and all, but it was because of him, we were leaving.
'Thank You For Visiting Forks'
The bold sign passed, my eyes lingering as we continued the road out. I continued to weep, wiping my eyes, hiding my sadness from mom.
His voice echoed in my mind, bringing on a fresh wave of tears. Regrets, wishes, fears all at once opened their flood gates in my mind.
"You'll always be My Bella" His angle like voice, forever etched in my mind.
Emmett squeezed my hand as I sunk further into his side. I closed my eyes, not looking back as I drove away from my home, my life. I let sleep over take me as the images of his broken body and her whinny voice, the only things I can't misplace.
Ten Years Later…
"Mom, you seen my shoes?"
"Mom! Charwie stowe my bouncing baww!"
"Bella Bee, you seen my car keys?"
"MOM! Have you seen my homework?"
I sighed into my coffee cup, I was so ready for this term to be over. Mornings were always chaos, and since the alarm wasn't set it only made things a more hectic rush and the morning schedule flew out the door in the rush to get my kids ready for school.
"Charlie; shoes are in the laundry, homework's on the table and give the ball back, your bus will be here in 10 minutes, so get moving buddy. Mackenzie, baby hurry up, I still have to do your hair. Liam, keys are on the coffee table, where you left them."
Charlie came running down the stairs, shoes in hand, bag on his back and homework in his mouth. His blonde locks sticking in every direction. Dropping shoes, paper and bag Charlie kissed me on the cheek.
"Morning Mom. Uh, found my shoes" he laughed nervously.
I smiled shutting the lid of my laptop "Morning Baby, lunch is on the table, grab some breakfast, but be fast, your bus will be here any minute" With a nod he got moving. For an eight year old, my boy was very self-sufficient.
Liam came thumping down the stairs, Mackenzie in tow with flower clips and bouncy ball in hand, her toothy grin brightening my morning instantly.
"Mornin' Bella" Liam hummed in a sing so voice and waltzed into the kitchen.
"So how was your evening?" He gave me a knowing smile.
After my husband Mike was murdered two years ago I was never really interested in meeting new people, but Liam had insisted I meet this guy and set me up with some friend of his, who might I add was a total jerk!
"Oh, it was great. He's practically a bum, has 5 cats, 3 older sisters, and doesn't like kids, apparently they smell." Liam laughed at me.
"Honestly Liam, you know I love you, but set me up with someone like that again." I gave him my best 'Mommy glare' "And…You just wait"
"Why did that man looks like a bum mommy?" Mackenzie piped in.
"Never you mind little miss"
Kenzie came skipping over "Hmm, can you pwease do my hair now?" she gave me her signature toothy smile. Today she choose her own outfit, but it was the usual skinny jeans, pink boots and light pink top.
The phone sprung to life, its deffening ring echoed through the house. "I need to fix that button"
Liam laughed "You've been saying that for the last year Bells. Don't stress yourself out Bells, I got it" Liam stayed last night to baby sit the kids while in went on my 'date'.
"Hello?…Hey Renee" Liam smirked at me. "Why am I here again? Oh you know how much I love your daughter, we were planning our wedding al last night. Good fun" I rolled my eyes. After dad died a year ago, my mom calls every day. I love her to bits, but she's gotta give me some space.
Kenzie jumped up on my lap handing me her clips, while Charlie ran out the door with a quick wave to catch the school bus.
"Me? Yeah I'm great…She is indeed, I will just grab her… I will. Good day Renee"
Handing me the phone he mouthed Good Luck with a cheeky grin before grabbing his keys and heading out to work. Liam has been my best friend since I moved to Seattle 10 years ago. He's a terminal bachelor and I doubt that will be changing anytime soon. He was a catch if I didn't say so myself. Too bad he bats for the other team.
"This isn't over!" I yelled after him as he headed off to work laughing.
"Hi mom" I sighed waiting for the next on slough of gossip or my next blind date.
"Isabella Marie you will never believe who I saw!" The good thing about conversations with mom was all you had to do was say a few words at the appropriate moments. But she used my full name, so this better be good.
"What's the goss mom"
"Well, Emmett told me that Edward Cullen was in town…"I froze. She kept talking but all I heard was Edward's name. I hadn't seen Edward in forever. We were high school sweethearts, in love since I first laid eyes on him and all that yada. We were inseparable up until the day Carlisle died. After my family and I left Forks, we lost contact. Well, I accidentally "lost" his e-mail, home address and phone number. They kind of "fell" into the fire.
"Isn't that great honey?" Oh shit, I missed all of that.
"Uh sorry mom, what did you say" I apologized quickly as Kenzie lost her patience, sliding of my lap and huffing up the stairs.
"I said, Edward Cullen has moved back to Forks. Word on the street is he is also single." I could almost hear the eye brows wagging and her grin splitting across her face.
When we moved to Seattle, Em and I got settled in fine. We had already finished school and graduated, it was all a matter of Collage and jobs. Each of us meet our futures, Emmett with Rosalie, and I meet Mike. Mike and I got married a year later. Charlie was our honeymoon baby and Mackenzie came 4 years later. I never thought I'd hear Edwards name again.
I often though about him. Wondered if we'd still be together now if it weren't for Esme. Even though I was with Mike, I always thought about the 'what if's' "Oh, well, I guess that's cool. Um, what does this have to do with me exactly?"
"Oh Bella! You weren't listening at all! Since you and Emmett are coming down this weekend I took the initiative and invited Edward to dinner on Sunday. Well, Emmett told me to ask him. I mean he's newish to town and you and Em haven't him seen each other in, maybe ten years now? You have a lot to catch up on!" Oh hell no!
"Mom! I…I was going to call today and tell you we can't actually make it. Um…Charlie, he..yeah Charlie actually has his first soccer game this weekend. So we can't come" Nice work Bella, real convincing. It the beginning of summer!
"Bella" She chasted, I suddenly felt 5 again "Don't be silly, soccer is a winter sport. We're coming into summer! Anyways, you are someone who would tell Charlie's coach you're going away and to find a replacement, so nice try!" I was about to get the lecture about moving on…again.
"Look, I know it will be hard for you to see Edward again. But you need to move on. It's been 10 years, I'm sure you can get over your issues for one night. Bella, I see it in your eyes, the pain. Losing Mike was hard for you I know. Don't forget I'm going through it too. I miss you guys, so I will see you Friday, baby. No more excuses."
I sighed in defeat. She knows pulling out the 'I miss you' line gets me. Mom and dad moved back to for 5 years ago to retire. Em and I decided to stay in Seattle. We always visit mom for the first few weeks of the summer holidays. "Yeah, your right. We'll be there mom"
She squealed "Bella I think this trip will do you wonders! Maybe you and Edward to head to the bar, catch up for a bit"
I suppressed a groan "Mom, I haven't seen the man in 10 years! His mother hates my guts, OUR guts. It won't happen OK. I have to go, Kenz has kindy. We'll see you Friday though, kay?"
"Alright Bella. See you Friday. I love you."
"Yeah, love you too" sighed hanging up.
I groaned and banged my head against the kitchen table. My mother was forever interfering. Telling me I need to move closer and meet new people. Move on and forget about the past was her motto. Oh and lets not forget making Bella's life misery.
I need not to see Edward again. That's what I need.
Kenz must have been close by, because I felt a small hand pat my head "Mommy, don't do that. You wiw hurt yoursewf!" She tutted I looked up and stared into her vibrant blue eyes. She took this as an invitation and jumped up on my lap looking me in the eyes.
"Mommy, whats wrong? I'm aw ears if ya need" she blinked, but I'm pretty sure she was trying to wink. I kissed her on the nose, she looks so much like her daddy. It's hard to believe she was nearly 4.
"Nothing's wrong cutie. Mommy's just tired. Now, go grab your bag and we will get you to kindy"
Kenzie seemed satisfied with my answer handing me her fairy clips "Can you pwease do my hair first? I've been waiting a wong time Momma"
I smiled playing with her blonde ringlets "Sure thing Princesses"
After dropping Kenzie at kindy, I umed and ahed bout giving Em a ring. I had nothing to do because it was my day off and I had done the house cleaning before my 'Date' last night, so I started packing for our trip to Forks.
I weighed my chances of avoiding Edward.
Forks was a small town. Only a couple thousand residents, so my chances were slim, and him coming for tea only made my chances of not seeing him 1 to 100.
What will he think of me now? I mean, I'm now a solo mom with two kids. I was Mommy and Daddy. Widower of Mike Newton. Last time he saw me I was a young, naïve teenager. And now he's Edward Cullen, hottest guy on the planet, owner of the biggest building firm in Washington, now ex-husband of the biggest slut in the world.
Yes, people may change, but I doubt Tanya ever did. I saw her snooping around Mike few years ago. At the time I had no idea she had even married Edward till I saw the ring. I almost felt sorry for him.
I often saw the Cullen Construction vehicles around town, but it only brought back the bad memories of the Cullens, Esme to be exact
A car pulling up my driveway broke me from my thoughts.
The hum of a classic mustang was a dead giveaway. Emmett was here.
"Bells, you home?" I heard his booming voice from the front door. You can always hear Emmett before you see him.
I smiled to myself and continued packing "If I say no will you go away?"
I heard the door creak open and Em thudding up the stairs. I turned to see him standing in my doorway with a stupid grin on his face holding up the spear key.
"Nope. See, I would have used this" He turned the spare key in his fingers "and I'd just sit in the lounge and wait for you to come home. Then, I would ask for a roast beef sandwich. Oh no, maybe a ham sandwich. With mayonnaise!" He added, placing the spare key on my dresser and walk over to give me one of his bone crushing hugs.
He grinned down at me "Why hello there my young sister. How are you on this fine sunny day" he put on a funny accent and I looked outside to see it was raining.
I giggled as he put me down "Well, I was doing great, but then, I got a phone call from mom about a certain someone coming to dinner on Sunday night." I gave him a pointed look.
Emmett turned to leave but I grabbed his arm. He spun round and got down on his knees, put his hands together, closed his eyes and began to pray.
"Oh please Lord, save my sole from this wicked woman" He opened one eye and peeked at me only to shut it and continue. I started laughing uncontrollably "I will eat my greens every night and put the toilet seat lid down without Rosie telling me, I will finally finish the deck, just please, let me leave the building alive!"
I have no idea how he kept a serious face through all of that but he got up and looked at me "So, am I forgiven? I will do anything, just, don't kill me" He pleaded.
I giggled "Fine your forgiven"
He laughed with me, then turned serious. He sat down on my bed and picked up one of Mackenzie's toys I was packing "He asked about you, a lot. Said he'd heard about Mike. He's ex-wife Tanya knew him, they worked together or something." I continued packing, not really knowing what to say he continued fiddling with the stuffed toy. What Emmett didn't know was Tanya was involved with Mike's murder No one knew that, that's why she got away with it.
"Are you sure your all good with him coming to dinner. I just told mom that I had seen him, then next thing she's hunting him down inviting him to dinner" I could feel his eyes boring on the back of my head. He let out a nervous chuckle, trying to break the tension or maybe just a silent plead for me to be okay with the situation.
I turned and smiled at him "Its fine with me. It'll be good to see him after all these years. I'm sure I can put aside the past for one night." I continued pilling clothes into bags and lying through my teeth. I didn't really know how to feel. The fact that I was going to see him again hadn't quite set in yet.
Emmett stood up and held me in a tight embraces kissing the top of my head, I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him just as tight. "I'll be there, but just say the word and he'll be gone. Kay" He smiled at me.
I grinned up at him "What's the word? Oh, can we make a code word. Like remember that time at Mrs Fosters Christmas party! We should defiantly have a code word."
He chuckled "Smart ass" I giggled.
I looked up at my big brother. "So what's on the agenda this weekend apart from dinner with he who shall not be named?"
"Well, mom wants to take Charlie and Kenzer's to Port Angles shopping. Rosie wants to go shopping to, so I will most likely be dragged along with them sometime during the week" He rolled his eyes and let go. We wondered down to the kitchen.
I giggled "Don't be so dramatic. You make a great bag bitch" I nudged his shoulder, while he shot me a death glare.
"Ha ha, so funny"
I laughed "You still want that sandwich?"
He looked at his watch "Ah shit. I really do, but Rosie will kill me. I was supposed to be home 10 minutes ago." He all but ran to the door.
"What, you have a curfew or something?" I giggled
He stopped sighing "Um no. You'll all find out this weekend, so I'm sure Rosie won't mind. But do you think she'll mind?" he said to more himself than me I gave him a dumbfound expression, having no idea what he was talking about.
"Rosie's pregnant" He let out a big breathe then a massive grin took over his face "And we have an appointment with the OB/GYN at 1."
I squealed and jumped up to hug him "Em! That's…wow, congrats! That's amazing. I am so happy for you two" My smile now matched his. Emmett and Rosalie had been trying for years. They had tried IVF and considered adoption, but nothing's happened.
"Thanks Bella." He hugged me again then let me go.
"I really have to go. Only you know, so keep your mouth shut. We're going to tell mom this weekend." He nodded to himself. Then smiled again "Give Kenzer's and Charlie a kiss from me and Rose. I miss those little boggers" He laughed.
"I'll see you Friday Bells" With one last kiss he walked out to his car.
"Em!" I called leaning against the door frame. "You'll be an amazing father." He smiled and got in his car and pulled away.
AN: Please Review! Next update soon
x Amiee x